Airfix 2019 Plastic Kits

Early on the morning of June 6th 1944 the combined forces of the Allied armies landed on the Normandy beaches in Northern France in the most ambitious and important operation of the Second World War. With airborne troops already on the ground and fighting, the sea-borne element of the force began landing. This phase of the operation was codenamed Neptune and consisted of five invasion beaches, three British and Canadian (Sword, Gold and Juno) and two American beaches (Omaha and Utah). The landings themselves were preceded both by a powerful air attack and by a fierce naval artillery barrage from a vast armada of ships anchored off-shore.The majority of the beaches were taken with casualties, but no severe losses, except for Omaha where the American troops were pinned down after the naval bombardment failed to destroy the German defences. But even this obstacle was overcome and once the beach-heads were secure, Allied troops and equipment were quickly brought ashore, ready to continue on and liberate the occupied countries of Western Europe and ultimately to defeat Germany and win the war.This collection comes from the Normandy beach-head, with tanks, landing craft, trucks, a gun emplacement, soldiers and a diorama base to enable you to recreate this momentous day. Airfix Gift Sets are ideal for more advanced modellers and include glue, acrylic paints and brushes.

While the first Allied soldiers landed in Normandy via parachute during the night of the 5th and 6th of June 1944, the vast majority of the liberating Allied troops would have to come via the sea, landing on Normandy's beaches under heavy fire and fighting their way inland. The Allies had various different types of landing craft for getting men ashore. Some were very large like the Landing Ship Tank (LST), some much smaller like the small amphibious DUKW but it was the Higgins LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) which proved to be one of the most important types used. Employed to transport the majority of US Personnel, as well as many British troops when they were used by the Royal Navy, they were vital because they could very quickly offload men and small vehicles, such as Jeeps, while under fire. Jeeps were vital because they offered the Allies mobility in the earliest hours of the campaign. The LCVPs were also able to return fire with their compliment of two .30 inch machine guns, helping to protect the troops that they were disembarking. Overall D-day was a success, thanks in no small part to the work of boats like these and their crews.

On the eve of June the 6th 1944, the vast majority of mainland Europe was either under the control of Hitler's Nazi regime, or heavily influenced by it. Only Britain stood free in Europe and openly opposed the fascist regime then seeking to control the world. Supported by the United States and Canada, as well as troops from the then occupied nations, the 6th of June marked the Western Allies return to France after the humiliation of the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940. The invasion required the Allies to hold total air superiority over the Normandy landing grounds. The lead up to the day had seen thousands of sorties carried out by Allied aircraft. From heavy bombers relentlessly pounding targets of strategic important in France, to fighter bombers such as the Hawker Typhoon that attacked enemy troop formations and smaller targets - the Allied air assault was total.

Due to the distance from Normandy to the UK, once the Allied had a foothold on the French coast, small temporary airfields were immediately established which gave the Allies the opportunity to fly more sorties and to be closer to the action. Some of these airfields were so close to the frontline they suffered mortar attacks. These airfields were to prove their worth, and with the help of Allied airpower, Hitler's armies were pushed further and further back, culminating in the defeat of Nazi Germany just eleven months later.

First flying in 1939, the Focke-Wulf Fw190 proved to be an immediate threat to RAF fighters when introduced in late 1941, being faster and more manoeuvrable than the Spitfire V then in service. This A-8 version was the most numerous and heavily armed variant, which entered service in 1944, as an attempt to stop the Allied daylight raids, however, by then the new Allied fighters had begun to outclass it.

Flying the Curtiss Hawk 81-A-2 from late 1941 the Flying Tigers, known officially as the 1st American Volunteer Group, were a unit of the Republic of China Air Force.This aircraft is part of the Fighter Collection based at IWM Duxford and is displayed at the Flying Legends show, for more information please visit www.fighter-collection.com

In the Battle of Britain, the Bf 109 was at a disadvantage due to its short range. During the Battle, after escorting bombers from their bases in northern France, The Netherlands and Germany, the Messerschmitt had only around 15 minutes of fuel for combat over southern England before having to turn back. However in the hands of experienced pilots this agile fighter proved to be a formidable weapon gaining the full respect of RAF pilots.

By 1943 the RAF needed a dedicated ground attack fighter, and the Typhoon was suited to the role. The powerful engine allowed the aircraft to carry a load of up to two 1,000lb (454kg) bombs. From September 1943 Typhoons could also be armed with four "60lb" RP-3 rockets.

The Gloster Gladiator was developed from the Gloster Gauntlet as a private venture, and represented both the peak and the end of the biplane fighter. In many air arms it smoothed the transition to monoplane fighters, and in confronting aircraft of its own era it performed well.

Despite being the most advanced aircraft of WWII, Adolf Hitler insisted that the Me262 be developed into a fast attack bomber, diverting valuable resources from much needed fighter production. Known as the ‘Stormbird’ the attack version included hard points for two 500kg bombs under the nose of the aircraft, with its speed making it almost invulnerable from Allied air interception.f

The end of the Second World War saw the victorious Allied nations desperately attempting to secure details of German jet technology and high speed research data, information which could be applied to their own jet projects. Using this information and engine technology obtained from Britain, the Soviet Union introduced the diminutive Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 in 1949 one of the most capable of the early jet fighters and even as this aircraft was proving effective during the Korean War, the Soviets were already working on its successor. The larger and faster Mig-17 Fresco may have given the appearance of being nothing more than a larger incarnation of its predecessor, however, this was in fact a completely redesigned aircraft, incorporating many improvements over the MiG-15 and a significant upgrade in Soviet jet capability.

The Bristol Blenheim bomber was ordered "off the drawing board", and first deliveries to No 114 Sqn began in 1937. By the time of the Munich crisis in September 1938 sixteen home-based bomber squadrons were equipped with the type.

One of the most distinctive aircraft of the Second World War, the P-61 Black Widow was the first US aircraft designed specifically for combat at night and the first developed with radar as its primary method of target detection. Powered by two mighty Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp engines, this was a very big aeroplane for a fighter, but if it managed to detect an enemy aircraft, its impressive array of offensive firepower would usually result in the Black Widow living up to its sinister name. It is thought that a P-61 Black Widow operating in the Pacific Theatre scored the final Allied aerial victory of the Second World War, in the hours just prior to Japan’s surrender.

The Savoia-Marchetti SM79 ‘Sparrowhawk’ was Italy’s main medium bomber of the Second World War and one of the most effective bombers operated by Axis forces. With its unusual three engined configuration, the SM79 was a relatively fast aeroplane, possessing excellent endurance, which made it especially effective in operations over the Mediterranean. As a torpedo bomber, the SM79 earned a reputation for being one of the best anti-shipping aircraft of WWII and should the aircraft have to land on water as a result of damage sustained during an attack, the wooden wings and fabric covered fuselage gave the crew ample time to take to their life rafts. After the armistice with Italy, around 36 ‘Sparrowhawks’ continued to fight with the Germans, some wearing Luftwaffe markings.

One of the great Luftwaffe aircraft of the Second World War, the ungainly looking Fieseler Storch may not have commanded the same respect as the fast and agile Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter, yet its low speed handling and short field performance was without equal. Entering Luftwaffe service in 1937, the Storch performed the vital roles of Army cooperation, liaison and reconnaissance, meaning the aircraft was never too far away from the front lines and didn’t always need to be flown there. Designed to allow the high mounted wings to fold back in a similar manner to how aircraft are stored on ships, the Storch could either be loaded on a train, or simply towed behind a suitable vehicle, as they headed towards the action.

The period between the First and Second World Wars was something of a golden era for British aviation and saw the introduction of some of the most attractive aircraft to see RAF service. With their gleaming silver fuselages and bright squadron markings, many of these aircraft also represented the absolute pinnacle of biplane aviation technology. The introduction of the Hawker Hart light bomber proved to be something of an embarrassment for the RAF, as it was faster than the current fighter aircraft in service. The answer to this problem was simple, ask Hawker Aviation to build a fighter version of their Hart. Powered by the mighty Rolls Royce Kestrel engine, the new two seat ‘Hart Fighter’ proved to be a great success and even though it was quickly renamed Demon to differentiate between the two aircraft, just over 300 of these elegant fighters would eventually be produced.

The handsome Bristol Bulldog was without doubt one of the most important RAF aircraft of the inter-war period. Introduced in 1929, the strong and manoeuvrable Bulldog was Britain’s main front line single seat fighter at a time when aviation was all about style and grace; it was flown by the nations most talented young airmen. One of these young pilots was Douglas Bader, a gifted airman with a flair for aerobatics but something of a daredevil reputation.

As you might expect from a new aircraft manufacturer previously involved in the production of railway locomotives, the Henschel Hs123 biplane attack aircraft was as tough as they come. Intended as a dive bomber and close air support aircraft, the Hs123 performed well during its combat introduction in the Spanish Civil War, however, its lack of range and relatively small bomb load saw future development suppressed due to the impending introduction of the monoplane Ju-87 Stuka. Despite this setback, the aircraft still in service at the start of WWII were sent into action, with its pilots perfecting the art of close air support for advancing ground units.

Even though the classic de Havilland Tiger Moth has to be considered one of the most important aircraft in the history of British aviation, it rarely receives the popular respect it deserves and is usually in the shadow of more glamourous types, such as the Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland’s own Mosquito. Despite this, without the availability of thousands of Tiger Moths to train a constant stream of pilots for military and civilian service, Britain and her Commonwealth would have been in real trouble during WWII and most pilots who would go on to fly the numerous Allied aircraft types of the Second World War would have ‘learnt their trade’ on this classic training aircraft.

Continuing the wartime development of the famous Supermarine Spitfire, the Mk.XIV saw the classic shape of Mitchell’s celebrated fighter paired with the awesome power of the new Rolls Royce Griffon engine. The resultant aircraft was superb and one of the RAF’s most capable fighters of WWII, proving particularly successful when employed against the V-1 flying bomb attacks which Germany launched against southern Britain, from the summer of 1944.

As the North American Mustang was developed as a direct result of a British Air Ministry requirement, it is somehow fitting that the RAF and Commonwealth air forces used the aircraft extensively during WWII. The British designation for the later P-51D version was Mustang IV, with the Dallas built P-51K, which used a different Aeroproducts propeller, referred to as the Mustang IVa.

A thoroughbred fighting aeroplane, the P-51D Mustang was produced in greater numbers than any other variant and introduced a number of improvements over earlier models. With a new wing design, teardrop canopy and lower rear fuselage, the P-51D was the mount of many USAAF aces and became the primary US fighter in the European Theatre, following its introduction in mid 1944.

Arguably one of the most distinctive aircraft of WWII, the Ju87B Stuka was a highly effective dive and attack bomber, capable of delivering precision bombing attacks, in support of the Germans ‘Lightning War’ concept. It also specifically employed the use of screaming sirens, designed to spread fear and panic amongst the enemy, both military and civilian.

The definitive version of this classic USAAF heavy bomber, the Boeing B-17G incorporated a host of improvements on the earlier models of the Flying Fortress. With thirteen machine-guns and optimised defensive firing positions, massed formations of B-17Gs would pound Axis targets on a daily basis, throwing up as much lead at attacking fighters as they possibly could.

The Vickers Wellington was Britain’s most capable bomber at the start of WWII and would see extensive service throughout the war, including with RAF Coastal Command. Undertaking long and arduous maritime patrols, Wellington Mk.VIIIs performed reconnaissance, anti-submarine and anti-shipping strike roles in the vital battle against German U-boats, helping to keep Britain’s sea lanes open and preventing Axis forces re-supplying by sea.

These early machines were somewhat rushed into service and it was discovered that a number of modifications would be desirable, if not totally essential. Perhaps the most noticeable difference from the later models were around the canopy area – the first Typhoons were supplied with a forward opening ‘car door’ style cockpit entry for the pilot which even included a wind down window. The pilot also had a transparent roof panel, which hinged open to the left and some machines had the addition of a rear-facing mirror, on the canopy frame.

Few aircraft in the history of aerial warfare can boast the impact and combat credentials of the Grumman F6F Hellcat, one of the finest fighting machines ever to take to the skies. A product of the already successful Grumman ‘Ironworks’, the company’s design philosophy was only to produce aircraft which were easy to manufacture and maintain and must be reliable in a combat situation. Importantly, it must be an effective combat aircraft and able to be mastered by the average wartime pilot following a standard conversion period. This no nonsense approach ensured that the Hellcat was ready to fight and available in some numbers when they eventually reached US Navy units in 1943.

Features: • Over 600 parts, • Can be built with wings open or folded, • Includes full cockpit detail with open or closed canopy options, • Complete fully detailed radial engine, engine mount and all ancillaries, • Separate engine cowling and forward fuselage panels, • Detailed undercarriage, undercarriage bays and arrestor hook with options to build with wheels up or down, • Fully detailed gun bays with complete machine guns and ammunition trays, • Can be built with closed or extended landing flaps, • Poseable control surfaces and trim tabs, • Realistic surface detailing showing rivets, fasteners and rippled ‘stressed skin’, • Drop tanks (2 types), 250Ib and 500Ib bombs and rockets all included, • Includes a choice of four decal schemes.

One of the truly great combat aircraft of the post war era, the McDonnell Douglas F-15A was a single seat, all weather air superiority fighter, which at the time, was one of the most expensive military programmes in history. Designed around the fighter pilot with the intention of producing an aircraft which would allow him to dominate the battlefield, the F-15 was known as the ‘Ultimate MiG slayer’, as it provided the USAF with a fighter which was without equal in the world’s skies and became the aircraft against which all future fighter designs would be judged. Despite being in service for more than forty years, the F-15 is still a formidable combat aircraft and is even being considered for further upgrade to keep it in front line service for many years to come.

Designed in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the need to equip the USAF with a dominant air superiority fighter, the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon was the first aircraft intentionally designed to be aerodynamically unstable, making this an extremely manoeuvrable aircraft, but one relying heavily on computer controlled fly-by-wire technology. Introduced in 1978, the F-16 is still in service today with several of the world’s air arms and has become the most heavily produced modern Western jet fighter in history, serving not only in the US Air Force, but also with 25 overseas nations. This striking aircraft has become famous as the mount of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron ‘Thunderbirds’, who have operated the F-16 since the 1983 display season.

As the US Air Force upgraded their fighter capability with the introduction of the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, the US Navy and Marine Corps were looking for a new aircraft to fulfil the dual roles of fleet defender and strike platform. The resultant aircraft was another American jet classic, the McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet, a distinctive looking twin engined fighter which provided naval units with a significant capability upgrade. Required to operate in the demanding environment of aircraft carriers at sea, the Hornet is an extremely tough aeroplane and has proved to be effective in the roles for which it was originally intended and flexible enough to take on additional duties. Also proving itself effective and reliable in combat, the Hornet is perhaps best known as the aircraft operated by the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the ‘Blue Angels’, with the team flying the F-18 since November 1986. The team are regarded as one of the premier aerobatic display teams in the world and their thrilling displays of precision flying are the highlight of any Airshow in which they perform.

For most RAF pilots serving between 1960 and 1988, the Hunting Aircraft (BAC) Jet Provost will be an extremely familiar aircraft to them. Forming the backbone of RAF pilot training during this period, the Jet Provost was distinctive by its broad fuselage profile, which allowed for a relatively spacious side-by-side cockpit arrangement.

The A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the US Navy and Marine Corps. Skyhawks were the Navy's primary light bomber used over North Vietnam. The Argentine air force also used the type during the Falklands War in 1982.

With the RAF already operating Phantoms initially intended for the Royal Navy at Leuchars air base in Fife, the withdrawal of HMS Ark Royal in 1978 meant that they also inherited the rest of the Fleet Air Arm Phantom fleet. Nos 43 and 111 Squadrons would use the Phantom FG.1 to defend Britain’s airspace until 1989, when they both converted to the BAe Tornado F.3.

The mighty Blackburn Buccaneer was one of the most capable low-level strike aircraft of the Cold War period, originally entering Royal Navy service in 1962 to counter the significant threat of a massive Soviet Naval expansion programme. Rather than face the crippling cost of building new ships of their own to meet this threat, British thinking at the time was to use their new strike jet to destroy the Soviet ships with a combination of conventional and nuclear weapons. Capable of extremely high speeds at low level, the Buccaneer proved to be the ideal aircraft to keep the Warsaw Pact countries on their toes, even though the performance of the first Buccaneers to enter service was affected by a lack of power from their two de Havilland Gyron Junior engines.

The service introduction of the Hawker Hunter F.4 in March 1955 presented the RAF with a more capable version of their sleek jet fighter, including a much needed increase in its internal fuel capacity. The F.4 also introduced the two distinctive streamlined chin blisters, which were designed to collect spent ammunition links from the guns, thus preventing potential damage to the aircraft.

The Sea Vixen was a 1950s–1960s British two-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm designed by de Havilland. The Sea Vixen was a capable carrier-based fleet defence fighter that served into the 1970s. Initially produced by de Havilland it was later known as the Hawker Siddeley Sea Vixen when de Havilland became a part of the Hawker Siddeley group.

Building on the success of de Havilland’s earlier twin engined Dove small passenger aircraft, the company’s attempt to produce a slightly larger airliner resulted in the first flight of the Heron in May 1950. Capable of comfortably carrying 17 passengers, the Heron had a longer fuselage and wings than its predecessor and employed an additional pair of Gipsy Queen engines, providing reassurance for crew and passengers alike. Early models of the aircraft were produced with a fixed undercarriage, but the Mk.II variant introduced a number of upgrades and improvements, most noticeably being the adoption of a retractable undercarriage, with the resultant reduction in drag providing a welcome performance boost. Although only 150 were built, Heron’s served with both the RAF and Royal Navy.

During the 1960s and 70s, the sheer variety of aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force must have made this an incredible time to be either a pilot or an aviation enthusiast. Providing the RAF with a capable air engineer, navigation and weapons system operations trainer, the distinguished looking Hawker Siddeley Dominie T.1 started life as one of the world’s first practical executive business jets, with its speed and cabin space making it an ideal candidate for military service. Used to train crews destined for Britain’s V bomber force, or the maritime patrol Nimrod, the Dominie would prove to be one of the RAF’s most useful aircraft types and was only withdrawn from service in January 2011.

A particularly handsome looking aeroplane, the Handley Page Jetstream was a sleek twin engined turboprop aircraft designed as a regional airliner and specifically to satisfy the potentially lucrative US market. The Jetstream offered great promise, especially when an order for 20 aircraft was placed, even before the design drawings had been completed. Re-engining the aircraft with a US Garrett TPE-331 turboprop powerplant resulted in a significant order from the USAF being placed, but this was subsequently cancelled, due to late delivery. Spiralling costs resulted in the bankruptcy of Handley Page, however, production of the Jetstream was taken over by Scottish Aviation and the Jetstream would go on to serve as the RAF’s standard multi-engined pilot trainer for many years and later as an observer trainer with the Royal Navy.

Without doubt one of the most famous aircraft in the history of aviation, the Anglo-French BAC/SUD (later Bae/Aerospatiale) Concorde was a supersonic transport aircraft which possessed performance that would put most military fighters to shame.

With two prototype aircraft built to prove the viability of supersonic flight for the civilian market, the British Concorde 002 (G-BSST) made its first flight from Filton on 9th April 1969 and joined its French counterpart at the Paris Airshow later the same year, where they both made their debuts.

This set of perfectly scaled figures and equipment includes officers, grenade throwers and other key personnel from the Wehrmacht. Suitable for putting with other D-Day related products found in the Airfix range.

Perfect for D-Day modelling this set contains various officers and men wearing uniforms and combat wear suited to the D-day period of 1944 and beyond. Carrying the weapons of the period they work perfectly with many other Airfix products.

Rommel’s, crack troops, the Afrika Korps, fought Montgomery’s 8th Army, the “Desert Rats”, across the North African desert culminating in the major Battle of El Alamein. This superb set contains various fighting poses as well as a senior staff officer.

This exciting set of the famous “Leathernecks” in action has a full compliment of Marines with bazookas, flame throwers, and inflatable assault boat. The U.S. Marines also fought on the Normandy beaches on D-Day.

The Willys Jeep, officially designated Truck, 1/2 ton, 4x4, is the best known of all the American vehicles of the Second World War. Originally intended to be a command and reconnaissance car, it became the most versatile of all vehicles. Able to be armed with machine guns and to tow small artillery pieces, the Jeep was essential to the Allied war effort.

In 1943, British military engineers developed the flame-thrower tank model, known as Crocodile, capable of producing a flame that could reach about ten metres in the axis of the vehicle. These flames allowed the Allies to destroy bunkers and any kind of enemy shelters without having to call the demolition teams of the infantry. The flammable liquid was carried in a trailer towed behind the tank. The type continued to be used after WWII and into the Korean War.

The Rocket Launcher T34 (Calliope) was a tank-mounted multiple rocket launcher used by the US Army during WWII. The launcher was placed atop the tank, and fired a barrage of 4.5 in (114mm) rockets from 60 launch tubes. It adopts its name from the musical instrument 'Calliope', also known as the steam organ.

The "female" version of the MkI tank was produced in larger numbers than its "male" partner due to the fact theat the four Vickers machine guns mounted on the sides were found to be more effective in combat than the heavier guns carried by the "male" in the treacherous conditions on the Western Front. The British Army soon learnt how effective these new weapons could be in both attack and in protecting advancing troops using the tank as a shield.

The Bedford QL was in production from 1941 to 1945. Approximately 52,250 were produced in total. The troop carrier (QLT) and the general purpose cargo truck (QLD), the most numerous version in the series are both included in this set.

The M4 Sherman was the primary tank used by the Allies during World War II. Thousands were also distributed via lend-lease, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies. Britain named the M4 (MkI) after General William Tecumseh Sherman.

The Tiger I was produced from late 1942 as an answer to the formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of Operation Barbarossa. The Tiger I design gave the Wehrmacht its first tank mounting the 88mm gun. During the course of the war, the Tiger I saw combat on all German battlefronts.

The restrictions imposed on Germany as part of the Versailles treaty saw it focus on wheeled armoured cars. The development of these centred around the need for mobile fire support around reconnaissance units. This final variant of the type was the SdKfz 234/4. The vehicle was fitted with a 75mm Pak 40 gun.

The British Army would use the Pioneer Scammel Tank Transporter for many uses during the war. The trailer was more-or-less fixed to the tractor and not demountable like modern semi-trailer trucks. Hinged ramps were used to get the tank onto the trailer, which if immobilised could be pulled on with the tractor unit’s winch. Pioneers fitted with tank transporting trailers had a longer chassis for an extended cab to accommodate the tank crew as passengers, and larger rear wheels.

This cleated-tracked landing vehicle was designed for the US Army initially, but then was also used by the British Army in NW Europe. This box also contains the Willys Jeep. Although usually associated with the Pacific theatre, toward the end of the war LVTs (Landing Vehicle Tracked) were employed in Europe as well. The US, British and Canadian Armies used the Buffalo in the Battle of the Scheldt along the Po River in Italy, across the river Elbe, and in a number of other river crossing operations.

The "88" proved to be an excellent anti-tank gun in France in 1940. By the time it arrived in North Africa it was a feared tank killer, which could knock any Allied tank at distances well over 1000 metres. It again proved its reputation in Russia, where it was the only gun capable of dealing with Soviet T-34/76 medium tanks and KW-1 heavy tanks. The Sd Kfz7 could carry gun crews of up to 12 men in theatre-type seats.

The most widely manufactured and deployed German tank of WWII, the Panzer IV. Robust and reliable, it saw service in all combat theatres involving Germany, and has the distinction of being the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war, with over 8,800 produced between 1936 and 1945. The losses it felt however on the Eastern front were enormous – throughout 1943, the German army lost 2,352, and in 1943 a further 2,643.

Designed in 1930 by the Swedish Bofors Company, this gun was adopted by some 18 countries and became the standard light anti-aircraft weapon for the British forces. The Morris CS8 15-cwt 4×2 General Service Truck was 15 cwt range of vehicles were made in large numbers and they became the backbone of the British army.

By 1943 it had become the principle anti-tank gun in service with the German army and most of its allies. The Opel Blitz 36-6700A truck was used on most battlefields where Germany had committed and showed great resistance to long distances and poor road conditions. Approximately 82,000 trucks were built between 1937 and 1944.

The DUKW (popularly pronounced ""duck"") is a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was designed for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious attacks. The DUKW was used in landings in the Mediterranean, Pacific, on the D-Day beaches of Normandy, Operation Husky (the invasion of Sicily), and during Operation Plunder (the crossing of the river Rhine)

To support the infantry through the minefields on the ground operation in Europe and the Pacific, US military engineers decided to modify their new tank, the M4 Sherman, which was not only used by US forces, but also by the British, Canadian and Free French forces. Chains attached to a cylinder on the front of the Sherman made contact with anti-personal or anti-tank mines, triggering the explosion which would not destroy any part of the Sherman tank.

In 1943, British military engineers developed the flame-thrower tank model, known as Crocodile, capable of producing a flame that could reach about ten metres in the axis of the vehicle. These flames allowed the Allies to destroy bunkers and any kind of enemy shelters without having to call the demolition teams of the infantry. The flammable liquid was carried in a trailer towed behind the tank. The type continued to be used after WWII and into the Korean War.

The Rocket Launcher T34 (Calliope) was a tank-mounted multiple rocket launcher used by the US Army during WWII. The launcher was placed atop the tank, and fired a barrage of 4.5 in (114mm) rockets from 60 launch tubes. It adopts its name from the musical instrument 'Calliope', also known as the steam organ.

The Landing Craft Mechanised (LCM) Mk.III was the most widely used of the LCMs during World War II, with more than 8,600 being built in yards in the USA. They were employed by both the US Navy and the Royal Navy. The LCM Mk.III was extensively used in operations in the European and Pacific theatres from 1942, with many hundreds taking part in the "D-Day" landings in Normandy in June 1944. The Sherman M4A2 Tank was the best-known of all American medium tanks. The Sherman was designed in 1941 as an improvement on the earlier M3 Lee and Grant series: after initial production in 1942, large numbers of Shermans were issued to the British Army, and the type became the standard Allied medium tank.

Taking just 1.5 minutes to deploy, the Tank Bridge No.2 provided a Class 60 tracked load and a Class 40 wheeled load over a 30ft gap. The bridge was in one piece and mounted on the turretless tank. The launching arm was attached by a pivoting arm mechanism with rollers to the front of the tank, the other end of the arm being attached to the centre of the bridge. The bridge remained horizontal as it was raised and then lowered by the pivot arm across the gap.

The German medium tank Panzerkampfwagen IV was developed in the late 1930s and was used extensively during WWII. The production of the Panzer IV Ausf. H started in June 1943. This version was designated the Sd. Kfz. 161/2. Compared to the previous variants, this model had Zimmerit paste on all the vertical surfaces of its armour in order to prevent adhesion of magnetic anti-tank mines. The turret roof was reinforced from 10mm to 16 and 25mm segments. 5mm hull skirts and 8mm turret skirts were added for further protection, which resulted in the elimination of the vision ports on the hull side. Later the hull was also fitted with triangular supports for the easily damaged side skirts. Along with some other modifications, these additions to the design increased the tank's weight to 25 tonnes, and the maximum speed dropped to 16 km/h on cross country terrain.

On 3rd April 1944, M.A.N. reported that it had successfully completed trial production runs of the new Ausf.G chassis. M.A.N. built about 1143 Panther Ausf.G tanks between March 1944 and April 1945. Between July 1944 to March 1945 M.N.H. constructed 806 Panther Ausf.G tanks. Daimler-Benz finished 1004 Panther Ausf.G tanks between May 1944 and April 1945.There were some minor differences between factory built tanks. M.N.H. fitted a cast steel Gleitschuh skid shoes instead of a rubber tire return roller behind the front track drive sprocket. The other two factories continued to fit rubber rimmed return rollers.

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) (Sd.Kfz. 138/2), later known as Hetzer (“baiter”), was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) chassis. The project was inspired by the Romanian “Mareşal” tank destroyer. The name Hetzer was at the time not commonly used for this vehicle. It was the designation for a related prototype, the E-10. The Škoda factory for a very short period confused the two names in its documentation and the very first unit equipped with the vehicle thus for a few weeks applied the incorrect name until matters were cleared. However, there exists a memorandum from Heinz Guderian to Hitler claiming that an unofficial name, Hetzer, had spontaneously been coined by the troops. Post-war historians basing themselves on this statement made the name popular in their works, the vehicle was never named as such in official documents.

Following their disastrous defeat at Stalingrad during the winter of 1942-43, the German armed forces launched a major offensive in the East known as Operation Citadel on July 4th, 1943. The climax of Operation Citadel, the Battle of Kursk, involved as many as 6,000 tanks, 4,000 aircraft and 2 million fighting men and is remembered as the greatest tank battle in history. The peak of the battle was the massive armour engagement at Prochorovka, which began on July 12th.

The Jagdpanzer 38 (Sd.Kfz. 138/2), later known as Hetzer ("baiter"), was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) chassis. The project was inspired by the Romanian "Mareşal" tank destroyer. The Jagdpanzer 38 was intended to be more cost-effective than the much more ambitious Jagdpanther and Jagdtiger designs of the same period. Using a proven chassis, it avoided the mechanical problems of the larger armoured vehicles. It was built on the Panzerkampfwagen 38(t)‘s widened and lengthened chassis with modified suspension (larger road-wheels from Praga TNH n.A prototype reconnaissance tank) and up-rated engine. The new engine was 160 PS Praga AC/2 6-cylinder engine controlled by Praga-Wilson gearbox (5 forward and 1 reverse gear). Chassis was modified in order to accommodate larger gun and thicker armour than regular Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) tank. Its combat weight was 16 metric tons (versus 9.8-tonnes for the Pz 38(t)) and it could travel at maximum speed of some 42 km/h.

The M36 tank destroyer, formally 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage, M36, was an American tank destroyer used during World War II. The M36 combined the hull of the M10 tank destroyer, which used the M4 Sherman's reliable chassis and drivetrain, combined with sloped armour. Conceived in 1943, the M36 first served in combat in Europe in October 1944, where it partially replaced the M10 tank destroyer. However when coming up against the heaviest tanks of the Wermarcht at the end of that year, the need for 90 mm gunned tank destroyers became urgent and during October–December 1944, 187 conversions of standard Medium Tank M4A3 hulls were produced by Grand Blanc Arsenal. These vehicles, designated M36B1, were rushed to the European Theater of Operations and used in combat alongside standard M36s.

Production of the Tiger I began in August 1942 at the factory of Henschel und Sohn in Kassel, initially at a rate of 25 per month and peaking in April 1944 at 104 per month. 1,355 had been built by August 1944, when production ceased. Deployed Tiger I's peaked at 671 on 1 July 1944. It took about twice as long to build a Tiger I as another German tank of the period. When the improved Tiger II began production in January 1944, the Tiger I was soon phased out. Eager to make use of the powerful new weapon, Hitler ordered the vehicle be pressed into service months earlier than had planned. A platoon of four Tigers went into action on 23rd September 1942 near Leningrad.

The British named the M3 "General Stuart" upon receipt of the tank under the Lend-Lease program in June of 1941. The tank's ability to "shoot and scoot" as well as keeping the crew safe from small fire arms fire, earned an affectionae nickname of "Honey" by its operators. The British cavalry men liked this tank as it could travel 10 to 20 mph faster than their own or enemy tanks, and for its ease of maintenance. The M3s were designed to replace the outdated M2s. The M3 incorporated a thicker armor, lengthened hull, and a trailer idler wheel to act as another road wheel to decrease ground pressure and improve weight distribution.

The Tiger I was a German heavy tank of World War II deployed from 1942 in Africa and Europe, usually in independent heavy tank battalions. Its final designation was Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E often shortened to Tiger. The Tiger I gave the Wehrmacht its first armoured fighting vehicle that mounted the 8.8 cm KwK 36 gun. 1,347 were built between August 1942 and August 1944.

The American M10 tank destroyer served during WWII. After the US entry into World War II and the formation of the Tank Destroyer Force, a suitable vehicle was needed to equip the new battalions. By November 1941, the Army requested a vehicle with a gun in a fully rotating turret after previous models were criticised for being too poorly designed. The prototype of the M10 was cdeveloped in early 1942, and was delivered in April of that year.

When the first T-34-85s (85mm gun) delivered by Zavod #112 appeared, they were given to the best units, the elite Red Guards battalions. However, they were in training during December 1943, so it is uncertain whether they saw action before January or February 1944. By then, around 400 had already been delivered to front-line units and instantly became popular with the crews. They gradually replaced the T-34/76 and in mid-1944 the T-34-85 outnumbered the older versions. By then they formed the bulk of the tank units on the eve of Operation Bagration, the Soviet response to the Allied landings in Normandy, and the biggest offensive ever planned by the Red Army to date. This was the final push, aimed at Berlin. Before the production built-up, the T-34-85 model 1943 were usually given to chosen crews, usually of the Guard units.

The Panzerkampfwagen 35(t), commonly shortened to Panzer 35(t) or abbreviated as Pz.Kpfw. 35(t), was a Czechoslovakian designed light tank used mainly by Nazi Germany during World War II. The letter (t) stood for tschechisch (German: "Czech"). In Czechoslovakian service it had the formal designation Lehký tank vzor 35 (Light Tank Model 35), but was commonly referred to as the LT vz. 35 or LT-35.

Production of the Tiger I began in August 1942 at the factory of Henschel und Sohn in Kassel, initially at a rate of 25 per month and peaking in April 1944 at 104 per month. 1,355 had been built by August 1944, when production ceased. Deployed Tiger I's peaked at 671 on 1 July 1944. It took about twice as long to build a Tiger I as another German tank of the period. When the improved Tiger II began production in January 1944, the Tiger I was soon phased out. Eager to make use of the powerful new weapon, Hitler ordered the vehicle be pressed into service months earlier than had planned.

During the whole of its service history, the Tiger-1 was constantly improved upon and adapted to counter the ever-improving Allied tanks and firepower it found itself up against. This version from the summer of 1944 comes with a asymmetric turret, 88mm cannon, mantlet, engine deck and accessory pack. A Zimmerit tool is also included.

The Chrysler Corporation began producing the M4A3(76) in March 1944. Many of their first units arrived almost simultaneously in France & Italy in August 1944. It, like all the Shermans saw a steady flow of minor improvements, and versions of this tank with HVSS (horizontal volute spring suspension) started arriving in December of 1944, just prior to the Axis push into the Ardennes region, and would become increasingly common from that point on as replacement tanks entered the combat zone. These tanks were very well received, the Ford GAA was a very good engine for a tank in the Sherman's weight range.

The M36 was introduced to replace the M10 which only had a 76mm gun. The M36 had a 90mm gun with greater armour piercing capability. In the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, it gave it the capability of combating the Tigers and Panthers of the Wehrmacht. The M36 with its new turret was placed on converted M10A1 hulls. The M36B2 used the same turret but was placed on the M4A2 hulls which had a diesel engine. They both had a long service life, particularly in other nations services.

During 1941 to 1945 over 15,000 specially built and designed military tractors were built in the U.S. Approximately 40 variants were produced and were used in every theatre the U.S. forces operated in. One interesting fact was that the manual for this military tractor included instructions for destroying the tractor should it be in danger of being seized by the enemy. Many of them stayed in both military and civilian use long after the war.

This smaller scale Titanic is a perfect way to build this iconic subject if your modelling skills are in the early stages. Coming in less parts that the larger scale versions on this page and with some pre-coloured, it gives the opportunity for anyone to create a lovely model.

RMS Titanic was an Olympic-class passenger liner owned by the White Star Lineand built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, NI. On the night of 14 April 1912, during her maiden voyage, Titanic hit an iceberg, and sank two hours and forty minutes later, early on 15 April 1912, with the loss of 1,514 lives. She was the largest passenger steamship in the world at launch.

RMS Titanic was an Olympic-class passenger liner owned by the White Star Lineand built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, NI. On the night of 14 April 1912, during her maiden voyage, Titanic hit an iceberg, and sank two hours and forty minutes later, early on 15 April 1912, with the loss of 1514 luves. At the time of her launching in 1912, she was the largest passenger steamship in the world.

The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat was used extensively in amphibious landings in World War II. The craft was designed by Andrew Higgins of Louisiana, United States, based on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes. More than 20,000 were built by Higgins Industries and licensees.

HMS Victorious joined the Home Fleet in May 1941. Just nine days later her inexperienced pilots encountered and attacked the Bismarck. She also escorted convoys to Russia, took part in the North African landings in 1942 and had a spell with the US Navy (being re-named as the USS Robin). After returning to the Royal Navy in early 1944, her aircraft participated in the attack on the Tirpitz. She then returned to the Pacific War. The box illustration shows HMS Victorious in the 1960s.

The Battle of River Plate was fought on 13 December 1939 between the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee and the Allied Naval task force. The location of the battle was off the South American River Plate. The Graf Spee, captained by Hans Langsdorff, had proved an effective battleship. It had left Germany at the start of the war accompanied by the supply ship Altmark, and succeeded in sinking nine Allied ships in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean.

One of four Admiral class battlecruisers ordered in mid-1916, HMS Hood was the largest of the her class and the largest warship in the world when launched in 1918. After the battle of Jutland the design of Hood was modified. However, as she still had limitations work on her sister ship was halted in 1917, leaving Hood as Britain’s last completed purpose-built battlecruiser. She was named after the 18th-century Admiral Samuel Hood. She was the pride of the Royal Navy on sailing to intercept the Bismarck in May 1941. After making contact with the German battleship, she, with HMS Prince of Wales, opened fire. The Bismarck returned fire and with the fifth salvo hit the Hood a fatal blow and she sunk within two minutes. Only three crew from her total of 1,500 survived.

The most powerful battleship in the world in 1941 when she sailed to raid Allied shipping in the North Atlantic with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. After being spotted by the Royal Navy she was shadowed and then engaged. In this engagement the Bismarck sank HMS Hood. She was then damaged by at least one torpedo from attacking Swordfish, slowing her down. She was eventually sunk by torpedoes fired from Royal Naval ships with the loss of almost 1,900 crew.

HMS Belfast saw action at the Battle of the North Cape in World War II, as well as protecting the Arctic convoys and taking a major role during the D-Day landings. After being refitted and seeing action in other conflicts, she is now preserved and anchored in the River Thames near Tower Bridge in London.

Launched on May 7th 1765, HMS Victory gained its fame by becoming Admiral Nelson flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The victory at this battle ended Napoleons bid for mastery of the sea, but cost Admiral Nelson his life. She had previously taken part in many other major actions against the Spanish and French fleets, and is now the oldest serving Royal Naval ship stil in service, being the flagship of the Portsmouth Command. After being restored to the same condition and appearance as she was at Trafalgar, she can now be seen in all her glory at her home in Portsmouth by visitors from all over the world.

A "cutty sark" is a short chemise. It comes from a poem by Robbie Burns, Tam O'Shanter, when Tam, a young lad sees some witches dancing in the wood, ne of whom is wearing a very revealing Cutty Sark. The Cutty Sark, built in Dumbarton is the best known of all the clippers and in her hey-day was the fastest of them all. She could carry 32,000 square feet of sail giving her a maximum speed of over 17 knots. Employed in the tea trade, she was used to speed the new seasons crop from China to London where the crews hoped to gain the prestige of being the first back. Since 1957 she has been in dry-dock in Greenwich, London, attracting visitors from all around the world. This much loved ship was almost destroyed by fire on May 21st 2007.

In 1625 while Sweden was busy building an empire around the Baltic Sea, the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus ordered new warships. Among them the Wasa. On its maiden voyage in 1628 the Wasa set sail and fired a salute. But only after a few minutes of sailing the ship began to heel over. She righted herself slightly - and heeled over again and, to everyones horror and disbelief, the glorious and mighty warship suddenly sank.

The Golden Hind was an English galleon best known for its global circumnavigation between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake, who on his return with a haul of Spanish gold and other treasures was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. The Hind was a well armed and nimble galleon, she was orginally commissioned as The Pelican and built in Deptford, London, where she was launched in 1577. She was the flagship of an expedition to explore the regions beyond South America commanded by Drake, with personnel support of Queen Elizabeth of England, Drake's mission became one less of exploration and more of piracy as he wreacked havoc against Spanish interests in the region. Launched: 1577, Deptford, London, Displacement: 300 Tones, Length: 120ft (37m), Beam: 18ft (5.5), Draft: 9ft (2.7m), Crew: 80 - 85, Armament: 22 Guns.

Introduced to the RNLI in 1995, the all-weather Severn Class Lifeboat is the largest in their fleet. It has a range of 250 Nautical miles and a top speed of 25 knots. It also carries a powered Y boat that can be launched and recovered by a lightweight crane to enable rescues close to shore. Its propellers are protected so it can take ground without damage.

This kit in this box enables a fully detailed model of this RNLI Lifeboat to be built. Full detail of the outside deck, hull and fittings are included and by removing the cabin roof a fully detailed interior can be viewed. The decal scheme will allow any one of the current operational RNLI Severn Class lifeboats to be modelled.

The Saturn V was the largest operational launch vehicle ever produced. Standing over 363 feet high with its Apollo Spacecraft payload, it produced over 7.5 million pounds of thrust at lift-off. It enabled the crew of Apollo 11 and subsequent Apollo crews to leave the pull of the Earth's gravity and reach the Moon.

The Lunar Module was the Apollo spacecraft that landed on the moon and returned to lunar orbit. It consists of the Descent and Ascent stages. The Descent stage contains the landing gear, descent rocket engine and fuel to land on the moon, as well as all the equipment needed by the Astronauts whilst on the moon's surface. As the missions developed more sophisticated equipment was carried and is part of this set The Ascent stage contains, amongst other vital equipment, the crew cabin; environmental control (life support) system; overhead hatch/docking port; ascent rocket engine; and enough fuel, battery power, and breathing oxygen to return to lunar orbit and rendezvous with the Apollo Command and Service Module. This kit includes eight acrylic paints, two paint brushes and glue.

Spanning the Apollo missions to the Moon, this 59 part set includes action figures of U.S. Astronauts and the equipment they used, including the famous Moon Buggy which was used to transport them on the Moon's surface.

The DB5 had a new tail design, offering improved aerodynamics. Options included power steering (on Mk1 cars), air conditioning, automatic transmission, limited slip differential and a 325bhp Vantage. Airfix Starter Sets are ideal for beginners. Medium Starter Sets are a little more challenging to build than the Small Starter Set range, with more parts. Each Medium Starter Set includes glue, two brushes and six acrylic paints.